Carroll was last seen near her family's residence a few miles southwest of Kosse, Texas on March 25, 1983. She resided with her mother and older sister. Her parents had been divorced for about two years and the mother had custody, but the children's father saw them regularly. He last saw Carroll about two weeks before she went missing.

Carroll's mother stated she dropped the children off at the lane leading to their house at 1:00 p.m., then drove away in her pickup truck. Carroll's older sister walked to the house and Carroll followed the truck. She disappeared a short time afterwards and has never been heard from again.

Carroll's home in 1983 was in a rural, heavily wooded area. Extensive searches in the woods turned up no sign of her. Her case remains unsolved and she is presumed to have been abducted by a non-family member.